Printer colorimetry control device, print colorimetry method and printer

ABSTRACT

A print and colorimetry control device includes a print control section which controls so that an image for which colorimetry is to be carried out is printed on a printing medium, based on predetermined image data, a determining section which determines a position where a colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry for the image based on a printing position of the image on the printing medium, a feeding section which feeds the printing medium having finished printing, based on the determined position, a colorimetry control section which controls the colorimetry section based on the determined position so that the colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry thereby to obtain a colorimetric value of the image.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-284279,filed Oct. 18, 2006, is expressly incorporated by reference herein.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 11/975,653, filed Oct. 18, 2007, which is expresslyincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates to a print and colorimetry control devicecarrying out printing and colorimetry of an image, a print andcolorimetry control method and a printer.

2. Related Art

JP-A-2001-287407 discloses a printer provided with a colorimetricfunction section measuring a color of paper on which printing is to becarried out prior to a printing operation.

An image printed on paper by a printer can be a target for colorimetryfor various purposes such as calibration of the printer. However, theabove-referenced JP-A-2001-287407 cannot guarantee accurate colorimetryof an image on paper after the printing process. Furthermore, whencolorimetry is carried out for paper by a colorimetry section after theprinting process, a user needs to set the paper at a prescribed positionso that colorimetry of the target image can be carried out at anaccurate position by the colorimetry section. Thus, the work from theprinting of an image to colorimetry is troublesome and difficult.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an advantage of some aspects of the present invention is toprovide a print colorimetry control device carrying out printing andcolorimetry of an image, a print colorimetry control method and aprinter each of which can realize the processing from the printing of animage to colorimetry as a sequential work in which burden of the user isreduced as much as possible.

The present invention provides a print and colorimetry control devicecomprising a print control section which controls so that an image forwhich colorimetry is to be carried out is printed on a printing medium,based on predetermined image data, a determining section whichdetermines a position where a colorimetry section is caused to carry outcolorimetry for the image based on a printing position of the image onthe printing medium, a feeding section which feeds the printing mediumhaving finished printing, based on the determined position, and acolorimetry control section which controls the colorimetry section basedon the determined position so that the colorimetry section is caused tocarry out colorimetry thereby to obtain a colorimetric value of theimage.

According to the above-described device, the position where thecolorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry is automaticallycomputed after the image has been printed on the printing medium. Basedon the obtained position, the printing medium is fed and colorimetry iscarried out by the colorimetry section. Consequently, since the printingof the image and colorimetry are realized as a sequential work, the workcan be rendered easier and an accurate colorimetric value can beobtained without variations in the colorimetric position.

More specifically, the determining section computes a distance betweenthe image for which colorimetry is to be carried out and the colorimetrysection, based on image position information defining the printingposition of the image on the printing medium and medium positioninformation relating to a position of the printing medium, therebydetermining the position where the colorimetry section is caused tocarry out colorimetry for the image. The image position informationspecifies a starting position of the image on the printing medium, asize of the image and the like. When the distance between the image andthe colorimetry section is computed based on such information, adistance is determined that is necessary for aligning the image with thecolorimetry section.

The alignment of the image and the colorimetry section can be realizedby moving either the image or the colorimetry section. However, both ofthe image or the colorimetry section may be moved. For this purpose, thefeeding section feeds the printing medium printed with the imageaccording to the computed distance in a medium feed direction, and thecolorimetry control section moves the colorimetry section in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to the medium feed direction according to adistance between the image and the colorimetry section in a movingdirection of the colorimetry section. More specifically, since theprinting medium is normally fed in a fixed direction when printed, theprinting medium is also fed by a necessary distance utilizing thefeeding mechanism. Consequently, displacement between the image and thecolorimetry section can be resolved. Furthermore, the colorimetrycontrol section moves the colorimetry section in the vertical directionaccording to the distance between the image and the colorimetry sectionin the feed direction. According to the construction, the image and thecolorimetry section can be aligned easily utilizing the mechanism whichis originally used for the printing process.

Furthermore, the colorimetry section may be capable of controlling theoperation of a drier which dries the printing medium. When a forceddrying which forcibly dries the image on the printing medium for whichcolorimetry is to be carried out, the image is dried by the drier beforecolorimetry. When the colorimetry is carried out after the image hasbeen printed, a certain period is necessitated until the colors of theimage are rendered stable. According to the above-describedconstruction, the image can forcibly be dried and consequently, asequential process from the printing to the colorimetry can be carriedout in a shorter period of time.

The colorimetry section and the drier may be provided at respectivepredetermined positions in the medium feed direction. The determiningsection computes a distance from the image via a position of the drierto the colorimetry section in the medium feed direction when the forceddrying is carried out. The feeding section feeds the printing mediumprinted with the image via the position of the drier based on thecomputed distance. According to the construction, the printing medium onwhich the image as the target of colorimetry has been printed can beallowed to go through the drier when fed to the colorimetry section.Since the forced drying can be carried out at a place where the printingmedium is caused to go through, a sequential process from the printingto the colorimetry can be carried out smoothly.

Furthermore, the print and colorimetry control device may furthercomprises a judging section which compares a colorimetric value of theimage obtained by the colorimetry section with a previously providedreference color value of the image, thereby judging whether a printingprocess by the print control section has normally been carried out,based on a result of comparison. As the result of the judgment, ameasure such as repair of each mechanism of the print control can betaken when the colorimetric value varies from an ideal color (referencecolor value) to some degree. On the other hand, when an ideal colorcorresponds with the colorimetric value, it can be confirmed that anideal color is reproduced by the print control section.

The invention further provides a printer comprising a print controlsection which prints an image for which colorimetry is to be carried outon a printing medium, based on predetermined image data, a colorimetrysection, a determining section which determines a position where thecolorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry for the imagebased on a printing position of the image on the printing medium, afeeding section which feeds the printing medium having finishedprinting, based on the determined position, and a colorimetry controlsection which controls the colorimetry section based on the determinedposition so that the colorimetry section is caused to carry outcolorimetry thereby to obtain a colorimetric value of the image.

Of course, it is possible to comprehend a print and colorimetry controlmethod and a printing method both including a step of carrying out eachconstruction or arrangement provided in the above-described print andcolorimetry control device or printer, and further a print andcolorimetry control program product and printing program product bothcausing a computer to realize functions corresponding to eachconstruction or arrangement provided in the above-described print andcolorimetry control device or printer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram showing a print and colorimetrycontrol device;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a printer;

FIG. 3 shows an arrangement of colorimetry and drying unit;

FIG. 4 shows an order system between pieces of software;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process the computer carries out basedon APL;

FIG. 6 shows an application screen;

FIG. 7 shows generation of composite image;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of composite image printing instruction in detail;

FIGS. 9A and 9B are flowchart showing part of a process to be carriedout by a printer control IC;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing part of a process to be carried out bythe printer control IC;

FIG. 11 shows a composite image printed in response to a print command;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing colorimetry instructing process andcolorimetric value obtaining process in detail;

FIG. 13 shows a feeding distance of printing paper and a moving distanceof a colorimetry section;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process carried out by a colorimetriccontrol IC;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing verification result printing process;

FIG. 16 shows a composite image after print of verification result;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart showing a process the printer carries out inresponse to exclusive use command;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing command receiving process of the printer;

FIG. 19 shows a chart image printed in response to a print command;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a process the computer carries out basedon APL;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart showing instructing to print a chart image;

FIG. 22 shows an application screen;

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a process for setting a position ofcolorimetric section;

FIG. 24 shows right and left patches printed based on image data forconfirmation of colorimetric section position; and

FIGS. 25A and 25B are right and left patches showing variations incolorimetric L value in each colorimetric line.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of the present invention will be described according tothe following order:

1. Schematic arrangement of embodiment of the invention;2. First embodiment;2-1. Composite image printing process/application side;2-2. Composite image printing process/printer side;2-3. Verification chart drying and colorimetry processes/applicationside;2-4. Verification chart drying and colorimetry processes/printer side;2-5. Verification process;2-6. Abut exclusive use of printer;3. Second embodiment;4. Colorimetry device position setting process; and

5. Summary 1. SCHEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows a computer 10 and a printer 20 constituting a print andcolorimetry control device 30. The computer 10 and a printer 20 alsoconstitute a printer control system 31. The computer 10 includes acentral processing unit (CPU) 11 forming the center of computation andcontrolling the whole computer 10 via a system bus 10 a. To the systembus 10 a are connected ROM 12, RAM 13, various interfaces (I/Fs) 17 a to17 c. A hard disc (HD) 14 is also connected via a hard disc drive (HDD)15 to the system bus 10 a. An operating system (OS), application program(APL) 14 a and the like are stored on the HD 14 and are arbitrarilytransferred to RAM 13 by the CPU 11 thereby to be executed. Furthermore,the HD 14 is a storage area to store image data 14 c to 14 e providedfor printing various images, reference color values 141 used as areference value in an verification process which will be describedlater, and the like. To the I/F 17 a is connected a display 18 adisplaying an image corresponding to predetermined image data based onthe data. A keyboard 18 b and a mouse 18 c are connected to the I/F 17b. A printer 20 is connected, for example, via a serial I/F cable to theprinter I/F 17 c.

The printer 20 is a printing apparatus controlled by the computer 10. Inthe embodiment, the printer 20 is provided with a colorimetry functionof carrying out colorimetry for a printed matter as well as a functionof printing on printing paper. That is, the printer 20 is a printer witha colorimetry section and includes a communication I/F 24, printercontrol IC 25, colorimetry control IC 26 and the like, all of which areconnected via a bus 32 to one another. The printer control IC 25includes a CPU 21, ROM 22 and RAM 23, and the colorimetry control IC 26includes an I/F 26 e, CPU 261, ROM 26 g and RAM 26 h. The communicationI/F 24 (specific interface) is connected to the printer I/F 17 c. Thecomputer 10 and the printer 20 are connected to the printer I/F 17 c andthe communication I/F 24 to realize bidirectional communication. Thecommunication I/F receives luster data of different ink typestransmitted from the computer 10.

In the printer control IC 25, the CPU 21 carries out processingaccording to predetermined software (printer controller 250) stored onthe ROM 22. Thus, the printer control IC 25 (printer controller 250) issaid to be a print control section. The printer control IC 25 is mainlyan IC carrying out control for print processing and connected to a printhead 25 a, a head drive section 25 b, a carriage mechanism 25 c and apaper feeding mechanism 25 d for control of each section.

The print head 25 a comprises a plurality of ink cartridgescorresponding to a plurality of types of inks (cyan (C), magenta (M),yellow (Y), black (K), light cyan (Lc) and light magenta (Lm), forexample) and a plurality of nozzle rows corresponding to the ink types,respectively. Ink filling each cartridge is discharged as ink drops sothat an image is formed on printing paper. The printer control IC 25delivers to the head drive section 25 b applied voltage datacorresponding to the luster data. The head drive section 25 b generatesfrom applied voltage data a pattern of voltage applied to apiezoelectric element provided in each nozzle row of the print head 25 aand delivers the pattern to cause the print head 25 a to discharge anink drop (dot) for every ink type.

The carriage mechanism 25 c is controlled by the printer control IC 25to reciprocate a carriage (not shown) along a guide rail (not shown) ofthe printer 20. The print head 25 a is mounted on the carriage so as tobe reciprocated (scan) along the guide rail. The paper feed mechanism 25d is controlled by the printer control IC 25 so that printing paper isfed at a predetermined speed by paper feed rollers in a direction (paperfeed direction) substantially perpendicular to the reciprocatingdirection (main scan direction) of the carriage. The printer 20 may beof thermal type or die sublimation type which form a printed image byother mechanisms, or may be a line head printer.

In the colorimetry control IC 26, the CPU 26 f carries out processingaccording to predetermined software (colorimetry controller 260) storedon the ROM 26 g. The colorimetry control IC 26 (colorimetry controller260) can be said to be a colorimetry control section. The colorimetrycontrol IC (colorimetry control section) 26 is mainly an IC carrying outcontrol for colorimetry processing and connected to a colorimetrysection 26 a, a colorimetry section moving mechanism 26 b, a presserplate moving mechanism 26 c, a drier 26 d for control of each section.The colorimetry section 26 a directs a color detector to an object ofcolorimetry so as to be capable of obtaining, as a colorimetry value, acolor value comprised of a plurality of color components L, a and bbased on an L*a*b* surface color system (symbol “*” will hereinafter beeliminated) defined by International Committee on Illumination (CIE).The colorimetry value obtained by the colorimetry section 26 a isdelivered to the computer 10. An Lab color space is a uniform colorspace not depending upon any device. Of course, a color space for whichcolorimetry is to be carried out may be an L*u*v* color space defined bythe CIE, an XYZ color space defined by CIE, an RGB color space.

The colorimetry section moving mechanism 26 b is controlled by thecolorimetry control IC 26 to reciprocate the colorimetry section 26 aalong the presser plate which will be described in detail later. Thepresser plate moving mechanism 26 c presses printing paper against thepresser plate based on the control of the colorimetry control IC 26 sothat the printing paper fed to a position where the printing paper isopposed to the colorimetry section 26 a is prevented from being movedduring a colorimetry work. The drier 26 d is provided near thecolorimetry section 26 a to feed hot air to printing paper based on thecontrol of the colorimetry control IC 26, thereby forcibly drying animage on the printing paper. Thus, a sequential process of printing animage on printing paper, drying and colorimetry can be carried out bythe single printer 20.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the printer 20. The printer 20includes a body 29 with a head. A roll of printing paper M (roll paperM) is accommodated near the top of the head. The printing paper M isconveyed in the paper feed direction substantially along an inclinedface 29 a formed on a forward side of the body 29. A casing 27 isprovided at a predetermined location on the inclined face 29 a. A printhead 25 a is accommodated in the casing 27. The print head 25 a is movedalong the aforesaid guide rail in the direction perpendicular to thesurface of FIG. 2 (the aforesaid main scan direction). Furthermore, acutter 25 a 1 is mounted on the print head 25 a so as to be reciprocatedwith the print head. A colorimetry drying unit 28 is installed at apredetermined position on the inclined face 29 a downstream relative tothe casing 27 in the paper feed direction. The colorimetry drying unit28 accommodates the colorimetry section 26 a and the drier 26 d thereinand is mounted to the inclined face 29 a so as to assume thepredetermined position. The printing paper M passes below the casing 27and the colorimetry drying unit 28 when conveyed.

FIG. 3 shows the interior of the colorimetry drying unit 28 as viewed ata viewpoint opposed to the inclined face 29 a. The colorimetry dryingunit 28 is mounted so that a lengthwise direction thereof is parallel tothe main scan direction. In the embodiment, the colorimetry section 26 ais accommodated in the colorimetry drying unit 28 so as to be locatedupstream in the convey direction, whereas the drying unit 26 d isaccommodated in the colorimetry section 26 a so as to be locateddownstream in the convey direction. The colorimetry section 26 a is onstandby at an initial position located at an end of the colorimetrydrying unit 28 while the color detecting section 26 a 1 is directed tothe inclined face 29 a side. A white tile is placed under the colordetecting section 26 a 1 in order to calibrate the colorimetry section26 a. In the embodiment, a left end of the colorimetry drying unit 28 inthe case where directed the paper feed direction (downstream side) isreferred to as the initial position of the colorimetry section 26 a. Anelongated presser plate 28 a is installed next to the initial positionso as to extend in the main scan direction. The presser plate 28 a is onstandby at a position spaced away from the inclined face 29 a by apredetermined distance. When driven by a presser plate driving mechanismat a predetermined time, the presser plate 28 a presses, from above, theprinting paper M conveyed below the colorimetry drying unit 28.

The colorimetry section 26 a is moved over the presser plate 28 a in themain scan direction by the colorimetry section moving mechanism 26 b.The presser plate 28 a has an elongate hole 28 a 1 which is formedthrough a central part thereof so as to extend lengthwise. The colordetecting section 26 a 1 of the colorimetry section 26 a in motion iscaused to be opposed to the printing paper M on the inclined face 29 athrough the elongate hole 28 a 1, whereby colorimetry is carried out foran image printed on the printing paper M.

On the other hand, the drier 26 d is fixed to a right end of thecolorimetry drying unit 28 when directed to the paper feed direction.The drier 26 d is installed downstream relative to the colorimetrysection 26 a in order that influences of heat generated by the drier 26d on the print head 25 a may be reduced. More specifically, the color ofink retained by the print head 25 a is changed by the heat. Accordingly,the drier 26 d is spaced as far as possible from the print head 25 a.

The drier 26 d includes a heater serving as a heat source and a fansupplying warm air produced by the heater out of the drier. The drier 26d has a wall which faces the interior of the colorimetry drying unit 28and is formed with an air-supply opening 26 d 1 through which the fansupplies hot air through the air-supply opening 26 d 1 outside the drier26 d. Furthermore, the colorimetry drying unit 28 located below thedrier 26 d has an underside formed with an elongate through hole 28 bextending from near the air-supply opening 26 d 1 in the lengthwisedirection with respect to the colorimetry drying unit 28. As the resultof the above-described construction, hot air supplied through theair-supply opening 26 d 1 flows through the elongate hole 28 b below thecolorimetry and drying unit 28, thereby drying the printing paper M onthe inclined face 29 a. The face of the printer 20 conveying theprinting paper M may be a horizontal face, instead of the inclined faceas shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 shows an order system between pieces of software in a print andcolorimetry control device 30. In the embodiment, the computer 10instructs the printer 20 on the printing of an image and colorimetry ofthe printed image according to APL 14 a (an example of print andcolorimetry instructing section and instruction output section). In thiscase, each instruction (exclusive-use command, print command,colorimetry command, drying command, chart defining command) is suppliedinto the printer control IC 25, whereby each instruction is to beprocessed by the printer controller 250. The printer controller 250carries out processing according to an accepted command and controls theprint head 25 a, head driving section 25 b, carriage mechanism 25 c andpaper feeding mechanism 25 d. Furthermore, when having accepted acommand to be supplied to the colorimetry controller 260, the printercontroller 250 transmits the command to the colorimetry controller 260.A combination of APL 14 a and the printer control IC 25 can be referredto as a print control section. The colorimetry controller 260 carriesout processing according to a command the colorimetry control IC 26accepts via the I/F 26 e and controls the colorimetry section 26 a,colorimetry section moving mechanism 26 b, presser plate drivingmechanism 26 c and drier 26 d.

A colorimetric value of the printed image obtained by the colorimetrysection 26 a is transmitted to the printer controller 250 by thecolorimetry controller 260 and to the APL 14 a by the printer controller250. More specifically, in the embodiment, the printer controller 250serves as a contact at the printer 20 side in the transmission ofcommand and data between APL 14 a and the printer controller 250 orcolorimetry controller 260. Thus, the transmission of command and datais not carried out directly between APL 14 a and the colorimetrycontroller 260. The reason for this is that the control by the printercontroller 250 is necessitated even when colorimetry or a drying processis carried out as well as when a printing process is carried out andthat a command transmission path from APL 14 a needs to be simplified.

2. FIRST EMBODIMENT

An executable embodiment using the arrangement of the print andcolorimetry control device 30 will now be described. In the embodiment,for example, it is assumed that a color publication with a plurality ofpages is printed. Print of image and colorimetry of a specified part ofthe printing results are carried out for every page. It is determined,for every page, whether the results show normal colors. When anaffirmative result has been obtained, it is confirmed that the page isprinted in normal colors.

2-1. Composite Image Printing Process/Application Side:

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a process the computer 10 carries outbased on APL 14 a. At step S100 (“step” will be eliminated hereafter),the computer 10 displays on a display 18 a a print setting screen(application screen) for an image (verified image) instructed by theoperation of the user to be printed, entering various printingconditions on the application screen. The verified image (an image to beverified) corresponds to the aforesaid colored publication with pluralpages.

FIG. 6 shows an example of application screen. Display for enteringvarious print conditions is carried out on the application screen 18 a1. In the embodiment, the print conditions to be displayed includeprinter type (printer 20 is selected in the embodiment), number of pagesof verified image to be printed, paper size, paper feed manner,automatic cutting (cutting of paper by a cutter 25 a 1), margins onupper, lower, right and left ends, type of verification chart to becombined with verified image, and display for selecting or settingposition of verification chart and the like. Various printing conditionsare obtained according to input operation by the user. Furthermore, onthe application screen 18 a 1, a preview display is carried out todisplay a range of printing paper and a composite image of verifiedimage and verification chart disposed in the range. The horizontal andvertical size of each patch composing the verification chart (hP, wP),the number of patches per line of verification chart (nP) and number ofpatch lines (mL) are previously defined for every type of verificationchart. Accordingly, these are automatically determined upon selection ofverification chart.

The computer 10 transmits an executive-use start command to the printer20 at S105. The executive-use start command is one of the exclusive-usecommands and designates start of exclusive use of the printer 20 forexecution of a sequence of jobs by the APL 14 a. Accordingly, the APL 14a can be said to be an exclusive-use start instructing section. Afterreceipt of the exclusive-use start command, the printer 20 carries outonly the processes based on the instructions of the APL 14 a (includinginstruction of PRTDRV 14 b) until receiving an exclusive-use cancellingcommand, as will be described in detail later.

The computer 10 reads out from the HD 14 one page of image data ofverified image data 14 c serving as image data representative ofverified image, at S110.

At S115, The computer 10 reads out from the HD 14 verification chartimage data 14 d serving as image data representative of the verificationchart selected when the aforesaid printing conditions have been entered.And, at S115, the computer 10 further combines the verification chartimage data 14 d and one page of verified image data 14 c read out atS110.

FIG. 7 schematically shows the processes at S110 and S115. As shown inFIG. 7, the verified image data is comprised of 1 to n pages of imagedata. The computer 10 takes out one page of image data sequentially fromthe smallest number page. The computer 10 combines the takenverification image data 14 c and the aforesaid verification chart imagedata 14 d while referring to the position xP, yP of the verificationchart set when the aforesaid printing conditions have been entered. Thecomputer 10 thereby generates one page of composite image data. Theverification chart is an image comprised of a plurality of color patchesP. In the embodiment, a chart of a row of patches P or a chart of tworows of patches P is selectable on the application screen 18 a 1. FIG. 7exemplifies a case where the verification chart image data 14 d relatingto the verification chart formed into one row is combined.

The position xP, yP of the verification chart indicates a startingposition of the verification chart relative to the origin (a startingposition of image area) of image area of the composite image. Thecomputer 10 computes the size of image area of the composite image,paper size and upper, lower, right and left margins and comprehends theimage area size on a predetermined XY coordinate system used torepresent an image. The forward direction of X in the XY coordinatesystem corresponds to the direction of a main scan first half on theprinting paper M, whereas the forward direction of Y is opposite to thepaper feed direction. Next, the coordinate position corresponding to theaforesaid xP, yP in the XY coordinate system is employed as a chartcombination position PS. The aforesaid verification chart image data 14d is arranged with the position PS as a starting position. One page ofverified image data 14 c is arranged at a position so as not tocorrespond with the position of the verification chart image data 14 dwithin the image area of the composite image, whereby the combining iscompleted.

At S120, The computer 10 instructs the printer 20 to print based on theaforesaid composite image data.

FIG. 8 shows the processing at S120 in detail. The processing is carriedout by PRTDRV 14 b. That is, the APL 14 a generates composite image dataand then starts the PRTDRV 14 b to supply the composite image data tothe PRTRV 14 b.

At S200, the PRTDRV 14 b carries out a color conversion process with thecomposite image data as a target and converts the composite image datato image data (ink data) represented by a gradation value for every inktype (C, M, Y, K, Lc and Lm in the embodiment) used by the printer 20for every pixel. In the embodiment, the composite image data is data(CMYK data) representing each dot matrix pixel by a gradation value ofC, M and K. The PRTDVR 14 b refers to a color conversion look-up table(LUT) previously registered on the HD 14, converting the CMYK data toink data for every pixel. The color conversion LUT represents a colorboth by CMYK data and by ink data and causes both colors to correspondto each other. The table describes the correspondence relationship amonga plurality of colors. When the composite image data is datarepresenting each pixel by a gradation value of R, G and B (red, greenand blue) according to the sRGB standard, color conversion LUT definingthe correspondence relationship between the sRGB color coordinate systemand ink data can be used for the color conversion process.

At S210, the PRTDRV 14 b carries out a halftone process for image dataprocessed by the aforesaid color conversion. In the halftone process, aknown technique such as the dither method or error diffusion method isused to generate halftone data defining discharge/non-discharge of dotfor every pixel and ink type. At S2220, the PRTDRV 14 b rasterizes thehalftone data thereby to rearrange data in a sequence in which theprinter 20 carries out printing, thereby generating raster data (imagedata) for every ink type.

At S230, the PRTDRV 14 b generates a print command and transmits theprint command through a printer I/F 17 c to the printer 20. The printcommand is transmitted in order that the computer 10 causes the printer20 to carry out a printing process and means a printing area definingcommand, print position renewal command or print data command. Theprinting area defining command includes information about paper size andmargins obtained at S100 and instructs an image region of the compositeimage within printing paper to the printer 20. The print positionrenewal command instructs a print start position per scan of the printhead 25 a. The print data command instructs an actual dot dischargeprocess accompanied with conveyance of printing paper M and movement ofthe print head 25 a and includes raster data for one time of scan by theprint head 25 a for every ink type.

Thus, after having transmitted the print command to the printer 20 atS120, the computer 10 advances to S125 to instruct colorimetry to theprinter 20. The processing of the print command at the printer 20 sidewill be described before explanation of colorimetry.

2-2. Printing Process of Composite Image/Printer Side

FIGS. 9A and 9B show part of a process to be carried out by a printercontrol IC 25 of the printer 20 based on the printer controller 250. Acommand to be transmitted from the computer 10 to the printer 20 issupplied via the communication I/F 24 into the printer 20 and furtherinto the printer control IC 25, whereupon the command becomes an objectto be processed by the printer controller 250. When receiving a commandfrom the computer 10 (S300), the printer control IC 25 advances to S305to determine whether the command is one of a exclusive-use command,print command, chart definition command, drying command and colorimetrycommand. Subsequent processing is branched off according to a type ofthe determined command.

FIG. 10 shows part of a process to be carried out by the printer controlIC 25 based on the printer controller 250, when the print command hasbeen received. FIG. 11 shows a composite image printed the printer 20prints on the printing paper M according to the flowchart of FIG. 10. AtS400, it is determined whether the print command is the printing areadefining command, print position renewal command or print data command.Subsequent processing is branched off according to a type of thedetermined command. When the printing area defining command has beenreceived, the printer control IC 25 stores image area informationcontained in the command on a predetermined storage area at S410. Theimage area information indicates paper size and upper, lower, right andleft margins obtained at S100.

At S420, the value of position xh, yh of print head 25 a is set at avalue of starting position of the image area on the printing paper M.The position xh, yh of the print head 25 a refers to a position on thepaper on the basis of the paper origin. The value of xh denotes adistance from the paper origin in the main scan first half movementdirection (X direction). The value of yh denotes a distance from thepaper origin in the direction opposed to the paper feed direction (Ydirection). In the embodiment, the paper origin refers to one of bothends of the top of the printing paper M located on the left. A startingposition of the image area can be specified by the aforesaid image areainformation. More specifically, the starting position of the image areacan be specified by a left margin (20 mm, for example) and an upper endmargin (20 mm, for example). Accordingly, at S420, xh is set at thevalue of left margin and yh is set at the value of upper end margin.

When having received the printing position renewal command, the printercontrol IC 25 renews, at S430, the set values of position xh and yh ofthe print head 25 a, based on an image starting position in thesubsequent main scan instructed by the printing position renewalcommand. For example, information indicative of a starting position GSof the verified image is contained in a printing position renewalcommand to be transmitted for the initial main scan in the printing ofthe verified image. The printer control IC 25 renews the set values ofposition xh and yh to the starting position GS, based on theinformation. The computer 10 comprehends the starting position GS in theaforesaid XY coordinate system when having generated the composite imagedata. Then, for example, the computer 10 computes actual distances inthe X and Y directions on the printing paper according to the distancefrom origin O in the XY coordinate system to the starting position,transmitting the computed distance as the printing position renewalcommand. At the printer 20 side, the values of the X and Y directionsindicated by the printing position renewal command are added to thevalues of the X and Y directions set at S420 respectively, whereby theset values of the position xh and yh of the print head 25 a can berenewed. Furthermore, the printing position renewal command transmittedfor the initial main scan in the printing of an verification chartcontains information indicative of the starting position xP and yP ofthe verification chart entered at S100.

When having received the print data command, the printer control IC 25stores the print data on a buffer of the print head 25 a at S440. Theprint data includes raster data for one time of scan for every ink type.The buffer has a storage capacity sufficient to store print data for onetime of main scan. At S450, it is determined whether data is full storedon the buffer. When it is determined that data is full stored on thebuffer, the printer control IC 25 carries out conveyance of the printingpaper M and movement of the print head 25 a according to the current setvalues of the position xh and yh at S460 and S470. More specifically,the printer control IC 25 transmits instruction to the paper feedingmechanism 25 d in order that the printing paper M may be conveyed sothat the position yh corresponds with the scan position of the printhead 25 a and further transmits instruction to the carriage mechanism 25c in order that the carriage may be moved along the guide rail so thatthe print head 25 a corresponds with the position xh.

At S480, the printer control IC 25 carries out the printingcorresponding to one time of scan. More specifically, raster data istransferred from the buffer to the head drive section 25 b. A pattern ofvoltage the head drive section 25 b applies to the print head 25 aaccording to the raster data is delivered. Ink dot is discharged fromthe print head 25 a. When finishing printing by one time of main scan,the printer control IC 25 deletes data in the buffer at S490.

The printer 20 receives a print area defining command, a plurality ofprinting position renewal commands necessitated to print one page ofcomposite image and print data command form the computer 10 in apredetermined sequence. As a result, the printer 20 can print acomposite image containing an verified image and verification chart asshown in FIG. 11. Accordingly, the printer 20 can be said to be providedwith a print control section.

2-3. Drying of Verification Chart and Colorimetry Process/ApplicationSide

Returning to FIG. 5, the description will be continued. At S125, thecomputer 10 instructs the printer 20 to carry out colorimetry of theverification chart and obtains a colorimetry value of the verificationchart for which the printer 20 has carried out colorimetry. Thecolorimetry instruction is basically a process of generating andtransmitting a chart defining command, drying command and colorimetrycommand.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing processing at S125 in detail. At S500,the computer 10 generates chart defining information (image positioninformation) defining the position of the aforesaid printed verificationchart in the printing paper M and the like. The chart defininginformation defines a starting position (xS, yS) and a final position(xE, yE) of the verification chart on the basis of the paper origin, ahorizontal and vertical size (hP, wP) of patch, the number of patchesper line of chart (nP), the number of patch lines (mL) and the like. Thestarting position can be defined by the upper end margin and left marginboth entered at S100 and the starting position (xP, yP) of verificationchart. More specifically, the sum of left margin and xP becomes xS, andthe sum of upper end margin and yP becomes yS. Since the horizontal andvertical size, patch number and patch line number are previouslydetermined for every verification chart as described above, the computer10 reads out the horizontal and vertical size, patch number and patchline number which are stored so as to correspond to the selectedverification chart. The read data is used as part of chart definitioninformation. The final position (xE, yE) is computed suitably using thestarting position (xS, yS), horizontal and vertical size (hP, wP), patchnumber (nP), line number (mL). The final position xE is the sum of xSand wP×nP, and yE is the sum of yS and hP×mL.

At S510, the computer 10 generates a chart defining command containingthe aforesaid generated chart definition information and transmits thechart defining command via the printer I/F 17 a to the printer 20. AtS520, the computer 10 generates a drying command and transmits thedrying command via the printer I/F 17 c to the printer 20. In theembodiment, a spontaneous drying command or forced drying command isgenerated as the drying command. The spontaneous command instructs todry a printed image spontaneously for a predetermined period of time andis provided with information specifying a time period of spontaneousdrying. On the other hand, the forced drying command instructs to conveythe printing paper M so that the verification chart assumes the positionof a drier 26 d and to dry the verification chart by the drier 26 d. Theforced drying command is provided with information specifying atemperature of a heater, wind power of a fan and the like. The computer10 selects the spontaneous drying or forced drying and sets a dryingtime or the like using values previously determined according to thetype of verification chart and type of printing paper which are used bythe APL 14 a or based on an input operation by the user.

At S530, the computer 10 generates a colorimetry command and transmitsthe command via the printer I/F 17 c to the printer 20. The colorimetrycommand instructs the printer 20 to convey the printing paper M so thatthe verification chart assumes a movement path of the colorimetrysection 26 a and to carry out colorimetry for the verification chart.The colorimetry command contains various conditions under which thecolorimetry section 26 a is caused to carry out colorimetry, forexample, information to designate an output type of colorimetric results(Lab/xyz/spectrum, etc.), the color of the slope 29 a side locatedopposite the colorimetry section with the printing paper beinginterposed therebetween (referred to as “background color”; and black orwhite) and view angle (2° or 10°). The computer 10 sets thesecolorimetry conditions using values previously set in the APL 14 a orbased on an input operation by the user. In the processing in FIG. 12,the commands may not be generate and transmitted individually. Thedrying command and the colorimetry command may be combined into a singlecommand.

At S540, the computer 10 monitors transmission of the colorimetric valuefrom the printer 20. More specifically, after transmission of thecolorimetry command, the computer 10 is on standby for the colorimetricvalue of the verification chart to be transmitted from the printer 20.At S550, the computer 10 determines whether colorimetric values of allthe patches composing the verification chart have been received. Whendetermining that the colorimetric values of all the patches have beenreceived, the computer 10 stores the received colorimetric values on HD14 at S560. After having received the colorimetric values of theverification chart from the printer 20, the computer 10 carries out theprocessing for verification of the printing results at S130 andsubsequent steps. Before description of S130 and subsequent steps, thefollowing will describe the processing at the printer 20 side for thechart defining command, drying command and colorimetry command.

2-4. Drying of Verification Chart and Colorimetry Process/Printer Side

As described above, a command transmitted from the computer 10 to theprinter 20 is supplied via the communication I/F 24 to the printer 20and further to the printer control IC 25, whereupon the command becomesan object to be processed by the printer controller 250.

Referring to FIG. 9 again, when having received the chart definingcommand, the printer controller 250 advances via S300 and S305 to S310where chart defining information is extracted from the chart definingcommand. The extracted chart defining information is stored at apredetermined storage area. Since the chart defining information isnecessitated in a forced drying process or colorimetry process as willbe described later, the computer 10 transmits the chart defining commandprior to transmission of the drying command and the colorimetry command.The printer 20 obtains the chart defining information.

When having received the drying command, the printer control IC 25advances via S300 and S305 to S315 where it is determined whether thedrying command is the spontaneous drying command. When the dryingcommand is the spontaneous drying command, the printer control IC 25determines whether the time for the spontaneous drying defined by thecommand has expired since finish of the printing of the composite image(S320). When the spontaneous drying time has not expired, the printercontrol IC 25 is on standby for expiration. When the spontaneous dryingtime has expired, the printer control IC 25 proceeds with the processingcorresponding to a command received next to the drying command. On theother hand, when the drying command is the forced drying command, theprinter control IC 25 reads out the aforesaid chart defining informationat S330.

At S330, the printer control IC 25 computes a feed distance D1 of theprinting paper M required for the forced drying of the verificationchart by the drier 26 d. When the forced drying is carried out, thepaper M needs to be conveyed relative to the drier 26 d in the course ofconveyance to the colorimetry section 26 a. In this sense, the feeddistance D1 can be said to be part of the distance between the image forwhich colorimetry is to be carried out (verification chart) and thecolorimetry section.

FIG. 13 shows a positional relation between the printing paper M and thecolorimetry and drying unit 28 and the like after the composite imagehas been printed. In the figure, the colorimetry and drying unit 28 isshown as divided into a drying range HR and a colorimetry range MR. Thedrying range HR refers to a range the drier 26 d is capable of drying ata time. The drier 26 d can dry the range corresponding to a plurality oflines of patches printed on the paper M (2 lines in FIG. 13) at a time.In FIG. 13, for the sake of easiness in the explanation, the dryingrange HR is further divided into a range R1 and a range R2. When patchesof the verification chart to be dried are included in two lines, thepaper M is conveyed so that the first line is located in the range R1and the second line is located in the range R2. On the other hand, thecolorimetry range MR refers to a measurable range when the colorimetrysection 26 a is moved in the main scan direction. The colorimetrysection 26 a can measure one line of patches by movement in the mainscan direction at once.

The printer control IC 25 computes the feed distance D1 by the followingequation (1):

D1=dHM+dMD−(yH−yS)+hP/2  (1)

where dHM is a distance from the print head 25 a to a color detectingportion 26 a 1 of the colorimetry section 26 a in the paper feeddirection. The distance dHM is basically determined previously for thesake of design of the printer 20. Actually, however, there is apossibility that a slight difference in the mounting position when thecolorimetry and drying unit 28 is mounted on the inclined surface 29 a.In view of this problem, the printer 20 computes the distance from theprint head 25 a to the colorimetry section 26 a (color detecting portion26 a 1). The obtained distance is referred to as “dHM.” The descriptionwill proceed on condition that the printer 20 has already acquired dHMthereof. A manner of acquiring dHM will be described later.

The reference dMD refers to a distance between the colorimetry section26 a (color detecting portion 26 a 1) and the central position of therange R1 of the drying range HR in the paper feed direction. Thedistance dMD is a fixed value for the sake of design of the colorimetryand drying unit 28. The printer 20 has data of dMD as the fixed value.The reference yH refers to a current distance from print head 25 a tothe paper origin (paper head) in the paper feed direction. Since theprinter control IC 25 is capable of computing a feed distance of thepaper M based on a rotational speed of the paper feed roller or thelike, the printer control IC computes the feed distance of the paper Mby the paper feed mechanism 25 d in the course of printing the compositeimage. Based on the obtained distance, the printer control IC 25specifies the distance yH from the print head 25 a to the paper head.The distance yH is medium position information. The reference ySdesignates the distance from the starting position of the verificationchart to the paper origin in the paper feed direction. The reference hPdesignates a vertical (the paper feed direction) dimension of patchcomposing the verification chart.

At S335, the printer control IC 25 conveys the paper M in the paper feeddirection by the obtained feed distance D1. In other words, the printercontrol IC 25 instructs the paper feeding mechanism 25 d to carry outpaper feed by an mount corresponding to the distance D1. As the resultof the above-described conveying process, the paper M is located underthe colorimetry and drying unit 28 in such a condition that the centralposition of the patch on the first line of the verification chartsubstantially corresponds with the central position of the aforesaidrange R1 and that a patch on the second line, if any, has a centralposition substantially corresponding with the central position of theaforesaid range R2.

At S340, the printer control IC 25 transmits the forced drying commandto the colorimetry control IC 26. When having received each of theabove-described commands, the printer control IC 25 carries out thecorresponding process. However, when having received the forced dryingcommand, the printer control IC 25 transfers the command to thecolorimetry control IC 26 since the control of the drier 26 d isnecessary.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a process the colorimetry control IC 26of the printer 20 carries out based on the colorimetry controller 260.When having received a command from the printer control IC 25 (S600),the colorimetry control IC 26 determines whether the command is a forceddrying command or a colorimetry command at S605. The colorimetry controlIC 26 divides subsequent processing according to the command type. Whenhaving received the forced drying command, the colorimetry control IC 26transmits instruction to the presser plate driving mechanism 26 c atS610 so that the presser plate 28 a is moved downward to press the paperM located under the colorimetry and drying unit 28. The purpose ofpressing the paper by the presser plate 28 a is to apply warm airuniformly to the paper while the floating of the paper is suppressed.Furthermore, the purpose is to make a wall so that warm air is preventedfrom leaking to the print head 25 a side. However, the processing atS610 is not essential and the control sequence may proceed to S615 afterdetermination at S605, skipping S610.

At S615, the colorimetry control IC 26 instructs the drier 26 d so thatthe drier is operated to start a drying process. More specifically, aheater and a fan of the drier 26 d are controlled according to settemperature and wind power, whereby the verification chart printed onthe paper M is dried.

At S620, the colorimetry control IC 26 determines whether a drying timehas expired from the start of drying process. When the drying time hasnot expired, the colorimetry control IC 26 continues the drying process.When the drying time has expired, the colorimetry control IC 26instructs the drier 26 d to finish the drying process at S625 andfurther instructs the presser plate driving mechanism 26 c to move thepresser plate 28 a upward at step S630, whereupon the paper M isreturned to a conveyable state.

As described above, the drier 26 d can dry patching on a plurality oflines at a time. Accordingly, even when the verification chart iscomposed of a plurality of patches, the paper M need not be moved by ashort feed distance repeatedly. Consequently, the drying process can befinished in a shorter period of time in a simple way.

Returning to FIG. 9, the description will be continued. When havingreceived a colorimetry command, the printer control IC 25 advances viaS300 and S305 to S345 to read out the aforesaid chart defininginformation. Subsequently, at S350, the printer control IC 25 set a lineas an object for colorimetry in the verification chart. Firstly, a firstline is set as the object for colorimetry.

At S355, the printer control IC 25 computes the feed distance D2 of thepaper M necessary to cause the colorimetry section 26 a to carry outcolorimetry for the target, based on the chart definition information orthe like. The feed distance D2 for the colorimetry of a first line ofverification chart differs depending upon whether the received dryingcommand is a spontaneous drying command or a forced drying command. Whenthe spontaneous drying command has been received, the paper M assumesthe position as shown in FIG. 13 at the time of s355. On the other hand,when the forced drying command has been received, the paper M has beenfed to assume such a position that the verification chart falls withinthe drying range HR of the drier 26 d.

When the spontaneous drying command has been received, the printercontrol IC 25 computes the feed distance D2 for the colorimetry of afirst line of verification chart using the following equation (2):

D2=dHM−(yH−yS)+hP/2  (2)

On the other hand, when the forced drying command has been received, theprinter control IC 25 sets the feed distance D2 as D2=−dMD.Additionally, the paper M is fed by a vertical dimension of patch forthe colorimetry of a second or subsequent line of the verificationchart. Accordingly, when colorimetry is directed to a second orsubsequent line of the verification chart, the feed distance D2 is setas D2=hP.

At S360, the printer control IC 25 transmits instruction to the paperfeeding mechanism 25 d, so that the paper M is fed by the feed distanceD2 obtained at S355. When the feed distance D2 is negative, the paper Mis fed in the direction opposed to the paper feed direction (hereinafterreferred to as “back feed”). As the result of the above-describedfeeding process, the printing paper M is located under the colorimetryand drying unit 28 in such a state that the center position of the patchcomposing the line of colorimetry corresponds with the position of thecolor detecting portion 26 a 1 of the colorimetry section 26 a in thepaper feed direction.

At S365, the printer control IC 25 transmits a colorimetry command tothe colorimetry control IC 26. In this case, the printer control IC 25transmits the colorimetry command together with the chart definitioninformation. As a result, the process according to the colorimetry canbe carried out at the colorimetry control IC 26 side.

At S370, the printer control IC 25 receives a colorimetry value of theverification chart transmitted from the colorimetry control IC 26. AtS375, the printer control IC 25 stores the received colorimetry value ina predetermined storage area.

At S380, the printer control IC 25 determines whether the colorimetryvalues of all the patch lines of the verification chart have beenstored. When any unprocessed patch lines are present, the printercontrol IC 25 returns to S350 to set the line of colorimetry at theunprocessed line, repeating the processing from S350 to S375. On theother hand, when the colorimetry values of all the patch lines have beenstored, the printer control IC 25 transmits the colorimetry values ofall the patches composing the verification chart via the communicationI/F 24 to the computer 10.

Subsequently, the processing carried out by the colorimetry control IC26 which has received the colorimetry command will now be described withreference to FIG. 14. When having received the colorimetry command, thecolorimetry control IC 26 advances via S600 and S605 to S635 to transmitinstruction to the presser plate driving mechanism 26 c, thereby causingthe presser plate 28 a to press the paper M under the colorimetry anddrying unit 28. At S640, the colorimetry control IC 26 causes thecolorimetry portion 26 a to carry out calibration. In the embodiment, awhite tile as a completely white plate is provided at a position opposedto the color detecting section 26 a 1 of the colorimetry portion 26 awhich is on standby at an initial position. In starting the colorimetryprocess, the colorimetry portion 26 a is firstly caused to carry outcolorimetry for the white tile. The colorimetry portion 26 a comparesthe colorimetric results of white tile with a reference value previouslystored thereon, thereby obtaining the difference of both values. Thecolorimetry portion 26 a generates a corrected value for thecolorimetric results based on the aforesaid difference. Subsequently,the colorimetry portion 26 a corrects the colorimetry value obtained bythe colorimetry using the corrected value and subsequently delivers thecorrected colorimetry value to the colorimetry control IC 26.

At S645, the colorimetry control IC 26 computes a movement distance ofthe colorimetry portion 26 a based on chart definition information orthe like. The movement distance include a movement distance D3 from theinitial position of the colorimetry portion 26 a to the colorimetrystarting position (the center of leading patch) and a movement distanceD4 necessary for colorimetry of one line of patches of the verificationchart. Movement distance D3 is obtained from equation (3):

D3=xS+xO−d×M+wP/2  (3)

where xO designates a distance from the mechanical origin of the printer20 to the paper origin in the main scan direction. The printer 20 has aspecified position previously determined as a mechanical origin. Theprinter 20 includes a predetermined sensor detecting the paper originwhen the printing paper M has been set in the printer 20. The printer 20then computes the distance xO from the mechanical origin to the detectedpaper origin in the main scan direction, storing the result in apredetermined storage area as data. Distance xO is a type of mediumposition information.

Reference symbol d×M designates a distance from the mechanical distanceto the initial position of the colorimetry portion 26 a (color detectingsection 26 a 1) when the main scan direction is positive. Since theposition of the colorimetry and drying unit 28 is fixed for the sake ofdesign of the printer 20, the distance from the mechanical distance tothe initial position of the colorimetry portion 26 a is also a fixedvalue. The printer 20 has d×M as data of a fixed value. Since theinitial position of the color detecting section 26 a 1 is negativerelative to the mechanical origin in the example of FIG. 13, d×M takes anegative value.

On the other hand, the movement distance D4 is in the main scandirection and accordingly can be obtained from the following equation(4):

D4=xE−xS  (4)

Each of the aforesaid equations may be replaced by another equation whenthe same result can be obtained.

At S650, the colorimetry control IC 26 delivers an instruction to thecolorimetry portion moving mechanism 26 b, so that the colorimetryportion 26 a is moved from the initial position in a main scan secondhalf direction by the movement distance D3. At S655, the colorimetrycontrol IC 26 transmits a start command to the colorimetry portion 26 ato instruct start of the colorimetry for one line of the verificationchart. At the same time, the colorimetry control IC 26 also instructsthe colorimetry portion moving mechanism 26 b to move the colorimetryportion 26 a in the main scan first half direction by the movementdistance D4. The aforesaid start command contains various conditions forcolorimetry designated by the colorimetry command (an output form ofcolorimetric results (Lab), a background color of the paper M, a viewangle of the color detecting section, colorimetric cycle and the like).The colorimetry portion 26 a is also instructed regarding theseconditions. The colorimetric interval is a time period required for thecolorimetry portion 26 a driven by the driving mechanism 26 b to passthrough one patch width wP and is obtained from a moving speed of thecolorimetry portion 26 a and the patch width.

At S660, the colorimetry portion 26 a sequentially obtains colorimetryvalues at a designated colorimetric interval. Since the colorimetryportion 26 a is moved at a constant speed by the colorimetry portiondriving mechanism 26 b, colors are measured according to the aforesaidcolorimetric interval, so that the position of each patch composing theverification chart corresponds with the timing of colorimetry.Consequently, a colorimetry value of each patch can be obtained. AtS665, the colorimetry control IC 26 determines whether color measurementhas been carried out for all the patches of one line by the colorimetryportion 26 a. The determination is rendered possible when thecolorimetry control IC 26 receives a signal informing of end of movementof the colorimetry portion 26 a by the distance D4, for example. Whendetermining that the colorimetry portion 26 a has been caused to carryout color measurement for all patches of one line, the colorimetrycontrol IC 26 causes the colorimetry portion 26 a to output the obtainedcolorimetry value, storing the colorimetry value in a predeterminedrecording area (S670).

At S675, the colorimetry control IC 26 transmits instruction to thecolorimetry portion driving mechanism 26 b so that the colorimetryportion 26 a is moved to the initial position. At S680, the colorimetrycontrol IC 26 transmits instruction to the presser plate drivingmechanism 26 c so that the presser plate 28 a is moved upward. At S685,the colorimetry control IC 26 transmits to the printer control IC 25 thecolorimetry values of all the patches in one line of the verificationchart. As described above, the printer control IC 25 side receivescolorimetry values of the verification chart transmitted from thecolorimetry control IC 26, at S370.

Thus, all the chart definition command, drying command and colorimetrycommand are firstly transmitted from the computer 10 to the printercontrol IC 25 of the printer 20, whereby the paper M is fed by anecessary distance at times suitable for a drying process and acolorimetry process. Furthermore, a drying command (forced drying) and acolorimetry command are transmitted from the printer control IC 25 tothe colorimetry control IC 26, whereupon the drying process by the drier26 d can be carried out for the paper M which has been fed to a suitableposition by the control of the printer controller 250, and thecolorimetry can be moved so that the colorimetry process can be carriedout. Since the printing command and all other commands are necessary forthe printer controller 250, the computer 10 transmits all the commandsto the printer control IC 25 so that sequential processing from printingto colorimetry can reliably be carried out by the printer 20.Accordingly, the printer 20 can be said to be provided with adetermining section, feeding section and colorimetry control section.More specifically, the printer control IC 25 and colorimetry control IC26 serve as the determining section. The printer control IC 25 and paperfeeding mechanism 25 d serve as the feeding section. Furthermore, thecommand transmission process can be simplified since the computer 10need not select as the destination the printer control IC 25 or thecolorimetry control IC 26 for every command.

2-5. Verification Process

Returning now to FIG. 5, the description will be continued. At S130, thecomputer 10 (APL 14 a) computes a color difference ΔE between thecolorimetric value of each patch of the verification chart obtained fromthe printer 20 and a reference color value (Lab value) 14 f and furthercomputes an average value (average color difference ΔEav) of colordifference ΔE of each patch. The HD 14 stores, as data of referencecolor value 14 f, ideal color values regarding each patch composing theverification chart selected by the user. Accordingly, the referencecolor value 14 f is read from the HD 14 thereby to be compared with thecolorimetry value of the corresponding patch.

At S135, the computer 10 evaluates the color difference ΔE and averagecolor difference ΔEav of each patch, thereby determining whether theverified image of the composite image have been printed in ideal colors.More specifically, the computer 10 determines whether the maximum value(maximum color difference ΔEmax) of color difference ΔS of each patch isequal to or smaller than a predetermined target value (colordifference). The computer 10 further determines whether the averagecolor difference ΔEav is equal to or smaller than a predetermined targetvalue (color difference). The target value to be compared with themaximum color difference ΔEmax may be color difference ΔE=8.0, forexample. The target value to be compared with the average colordifference ΔEav may be color difference ΔE=3.0, for example. When bothmaximum color difference ΔEmax and average color difference ΔEav areequal to or smaller than respective target values, the colors of theverified image printed are considered to be normal together with theverification chart. The computer 10 then advances to S140. On the otherhand, when either one or both of the maximum color difference ΔEmax andthe average color difference ΔEav are larger than the respective targetvalues, the colors of the verified image are considered to be abnormal.The computer 10 then advances to S145. Any one of color differencecolor-difference formula CIE1976, CIE1994 and CIE2000 may be used forcomputation of color difference ΔE. The computer 10 carrying out theprocessing at S130 and S135 can be said to be provided with adetermining section. More specifically, the APL 14 a can be said to be adetermining section.

At S140, the computer 10 instructs the printer 20 to print anverification result indicating that the printing at a predeterminedposition within the image area of the composite image is normal.

FIG. 15 shows processing at S140 in detail. FIG. 16 shows an example ofverification result printed by the printer 20 according to theinstruction at S140.

At S700, the computer 10 generates verification result image datarepresenting the verification result. For example, the computer 10generates data of a text describing “Verified average ΔE=□ and maximumΔE=□” (each □ is to be replaced by aforesaid average color differenceΔEav and maximum color difference ΔEmax respectively) and converts thetext data to RGB image data.

At S710, the computer 10 sets a printing position of the verificationresult. The printing position of the verification result is a distanceto the head position of verification result in the X and Y directions onthe basis of the origin of the image area of the aforesaid compositeimage. The verification result is to be printed at a position which iswithin the image area of the composite image and which does not overlapthe verified image and the verification chart. Accordingly, the computer10 can automatically select and set the printing position of theverification result, referring to the positions of the verified imageand of the verification chart. Alternatively, the printing position maybe set as instructed by the user.

At S720, the computer 10 transmits a backfeed command to the printer 20to instruct to backfeed the paper M. At S730, the computer 10 generatesa print command based on the verification result image data andtransmits the print command to the printer 20. Image processing isapplied to the verification result image data so that raster data forprinting the verification result is generated. The image processingincludes a color conversion process, halftone process, rasterizingprocess and the like. Furthermore, the computer 10 generates positioninformation based on the set print position of the verification result,the upper end margin of the paper M and the left margin. The positioninformation defines a print start position of the verification result onthe paper M on the basis of the paper origin. The computer 10 thengenerates raster data and a print command containing the positioninformation. The print command is transmitted to the printer 20.

At S740, the computer 10 transmits a paper cutting command to theprinter 20. The paper cutting command is provided for cutting the paperM on which the verification result has been printed, at a position(paper cutting position) corresponding to the paper size starting fromthe paper head by a cutter 25 a 1.

The printer 20 side will be described in relation to the commandstransmitted at S720 to S740 respectively. When having received thebackfeed command, the printer 20 transmits instruction to the paperfeeding mechanism 25 d in order that the paper M may be fed back so thatthe paper head is returned to a predetermined paper-feed initialposition while the verification chart is located within the range ofcolorimetry. When a print command has been received, instruction istransmitted to the paper feed mechanism 25 d and the carriage mechanism25 c so that feed of the paper M and movement of the print head 25 a arecarried out so that the print head 25 a is located at the verificationresult print start position indicated by the position information of theverification result contained in the command. Furthermore, the headdriving section 25 b is also controlled so that the verification resultis printed from the start position based on the aforesaid raster data.In the backfeed, the paper M need not be returned until the head thereofassumes the paper-feed initial position but may be returned directlyfrom the position during colorimetry so that the verification resultprint start position is moved under the main scan path of the print head25 a.

When having received a paper cutting command, the printer 20 transmitsinstruction to the paper feeding mechanism 25 d in order that the paperM may be fed so that the position of the cutter 25 a 1 corresponds withthe aforesaid paper cutting position and further transmits instructionto the print head 25 a so that the cutter 25 a 1 protrudes outward to aposition where the blade edge of the cutter 25 a 1 reaches the paper M.Furthermore, the printer 20 transmits instruction to the carriagemechanism 25 c to move the print head 25 a (cutter 25 a 1) reciprocally.As a result, as shown in FIG. 16, printed paper on which the verifiedimage, the verification chart and the verification result are printed inone image area is cut from the roll. The cutter 25 a 1 is retractedinside the print head 25 a when unused. Thus, the cutter 25 a 1 is takenout only when the paper is to be cut.

The description will be returned to FIG. 5. On the other hand, at S145,the computer 10 instructs the printer 20 to print the colorimetry resultindicating that the composite image has a defect at a predeterminedposition within the image area. For example, the computer 10 causes theprinter 20 to print the verification result that “Unverified averageΔE=□ and maximum ΔE=□”. Since the processing at S145 differs from S150in characters of verification result to be printed, the description willbe eliminated.

At a step next to S145, the computer 10 instructs the printer 20 tocarry out a predetermined recovering operation at S150. Morespecifically, since the color reproducibility of the printer 20 differsfrom an ideal characteristic, the cause for the difference will beresolved. Various recovering manners are considered. For example, theprinter 20 is caused to clean the nozzle of the print head 25 a so thatthe normal color reproducibility is recovered. Of course, the computer10 may be arranged to cause the display 18 a to display a predeterminedwarning, whereby the user is urged to carry out necessary maintenancefor the printer 20.

At a step next to S150, the computer 10 returns to S120 to instruct theprinter 20 to print the last printed composite image again, repeatingthe processing at S120 and subsequent processing. At S155, the computer10 determines whether normal verification result has been obtained fromall pages of verified image data 14 c stored on HD 14. When one or moreunprocessed pages remain, the computer 10 returns to S110 to read outimage data of one of the unprocessed pages from the verified image data14 c.

On the other hand, when normal verification results have been obtainedfrom all the pages, the computer 10 (APL 14 a) transmits theexclusive-use canceling command to the printer 20 at S160 to cancel theexclusive-use state of the printer 20, thereafter ending the processingof FIG. 5. Accordingly, the APL 14 a can be said to be an exclusive-usecancel instructing section.

According to the embodiment, the user can obtain the print results ofall the pages of verified images represented by colored publicationcontaining plural pages while the normality of printed colors have beenverified and the results are cut into the pages.

2-6. Exclusive Use of Printer

Next, the following will describe the exclusive use of the printer 20 bythe computer 10 with use of the aforesaid exclusive use command. FIG. 17is a flowchart showing a process carried out by the printer havingreceived an exclusive-use command from the computer 10 (APL 14 a). AtS800, the printer 20 determines whether the received exclusive-usecommand is an exclusive-use starting command, an exclusive-use cancelingcommand or a job information requiring command. Subsequent processing isbranched off according to a type of the determined command.

When having received the exclusive-use starting command, the printer 20stores the name of I/F having received the command (or ID foridentifying I/F) in a specified storage area. I/Fs other than thecommunication I/F 24 used for communication with the computer 10 areeliminated in FIG. 1. It is understood that the printer 20 is providedwith I/Fs used for communication with external instruction output source(PC or program) except for the APL 14 a, other than the communicationI/F 24. The printer 20 previously applies numbers to respective I/Fs sothat the numbers serve as the I/Fs. Since the exclusive-use startingcommand has been received via the communication I/F 24 at S810, theprinter 20 stores the previously applied number n as the I/F name in aspecified storage area.

Each interface provided in the printer 20 is means or communicationsystem interposed between an instruction output source and the printer20 for realizing communication in a one-to-one relationship.Accordingly, the interfaces include a software I/F used for datatransmission between an instruction output side program and the printer20 side program as well as a hardware I/F such as a USB connector usedfor connecting a PC to the printer 20. When communication is carried outamong a plurality of PCs or programs via a connector in compliance withthe TCP/IP system provided in the printer 20, an IP address or portallocated to the instruction output source is included in the concept ofI/F.

At S820, the printer 20 stores attribute information provided in theexclusive-use starting command in a predetermined storage area. Theattribute information includes a job name assigned to a sequentialprocessing from printing to colorimetry the APL 14 a requires theprinter 20 to carry out. When transmitting an exclusive-use startingcommand, the APL 14 a informs the job name, user name and PC host nameand the like contained in the command.

When having received an exclusive-use canceling command, the printer 20deletes the I/F name stored in the aforesaid specified storage area atS830. After the deletion, the printer 20 stores job informationindicating the contents of processing carried out according to eachcommand in a period from receipt of the exclusive-use starting commandto receipt of an exclusive-use canceling command (S840). The jobinformation includes a time period necessary for printing to completionof colorimetry, the number of pages of printed matter, a used length ofroll M, an amount of ink used and the contents of verification result.The job information may be stored so as to correspond to the job namestored at S820.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing command receiving process of the printer20. The printer 20 normally determines whether an I/F name is stored inthe specified storage area (S900). When the I/F name is stored, theprinter 20 designates the stored I/F name as a receiving I/F (S970) toreceive a command only from the designated I/F (S980). Morespecifically, after having received an exclusive-use starting commandfrom any instruction output source, the printer 20 stores the I/F namefrom which the exclusive-use starting command has been received andreceives an external command using only the I/F whose name has beenstored. This limitation of I/F is continued until an exclusive-usecanceling command is received via the I/F whose name has been stored anddeletes the I/F name from the specified storage area.

Thus, the APL 14 a transmits the exclusive-use starting command to theprinter 20 (S105) and can dominate the printer 20 until an exclusive-usecanceling command is transmitted (S160). Consequently, all theprocessing from the printing of a first composite image to colorimetryof the last composite image can continuously be carried out withoutinterrupt of a job from the other instruction output source connected tothe printer 20. In particular, it is expected that several hours arerequired to accomplish the printing and colorimetry of verificationchart regarding all of a plurality of pages of the verified images. Ithas been conventionally difficult to dominate a printer for such a longtime period. However, since the printer can be dominated in theembodiment, a printed matter having no relation with the verified imagescan be prevented from creeping into pages of the verified images.

When determination is in the negative at S900, that is, when noexclusive-use starting command has not been received from anyinstruction output source, the printer 20 can receive a command from anyI/F in order of arrival. More specifically, the printer 20 sets astatus-checked I/F at I/F No. 1 (S910) and checks the status of the setI/F (S920). When it is determined that external data is being received(Yes at S930), the I/F under receipt is designated as a receiving I/F(S960) and external commands are accepted via the designated I/F. On theother hand, when the determination is in the negative at S930, it isdetermined whether the status check has been completed for all the I/Fsstarting with No. 1 (S940). When the status check has not beencompleted, the setting of I/F number to be checked is counted up by 1(S950) and the printer 20 then returns to S920. When the status checkhas been completed for all the I/Fs (Yes in S940), the printer 20returns to S910 to repeat the status check from the I/F No. 1.

Return to FIG. 17, when having received a job information requiringcommand, the printer 20 transmits the required job information to arequestor. The job information requiring command is a specified job nameof job information to be required. At the printer 20 side, jobinformation is extracted which is stored in a storage area so as tocorrespond to the job name specified by the received job informationrequiring command. The extracted job information is transmitted to thecomputer 10. As a result, at the computer 10 side, various pieces ofinformation can be obtained regarding the specified job relating tosequential processing from the printing of an image to colorimetry.

It can be considered that after transmission of an exclusive-usestarting command by the APL 14 a, an error occurs in the computer 10 orAPL 14 a such that the APL 14 a cannot transmit an exclusive-usecanceling command to the printer 20. When a predetermined time hasexpired after receipt of the exclusive-use starting command, the printer20 may generate a reset signal. In this case, the predetermined time maybe a time period set for accomplishing the printing of all the verifiedimages and colorimetry of verification chart. When the reset signal hasbeen generated, the printer 20 regards the condition as the same as whenan exclusive-use canceling command has been received. Accordingly, theprinter 20 deletes the I/F name stored in the specified storage area. Inaddition to or instead of the determination based on the lapse of thepredetermined time, the printer 20 may generate the reset signal anddelete the I/F name when the user has applied a predetermined operationto the printer 20. This arrangement can prevent the printer 20 frombeing unduly dominated by a single instruction output source.Furthermore, the printer 20 can readily be canceled from the exclusiveuse by the APL 14 a at a time desired by the user.

3. SECOND EMBODIMENT

A second embodiment which can be carried out using the arrangement ofthe print and colorimetry control device will be described. Since thefirst and second embodiments share many parts in common, differences ofthe second embodiment from the first one will be described here.

FIG. 19 shows a chart image the printer 20 has printed on the paper M inthe second embodiment. The chart image includes a chart area composed ofa plurality of color patches P lined up in the main scan direction andin the paper feed direction and a print stabilizing area encompassingthe chart area. The computer 10 causes the printer 20 to carry outsequential processing from the printing of the chart image to thecolorimetry of each patch P.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart showing a process the computer 10 carries outbased on the APL 14 a. When compared with FIG. 5, FIG. 20 differs fromFIG. 5 in that no verification process based on the result ofcolorimetry is carried out. Furthermore, no process of combining imagesis necessitated. The computer 10 causes the printer 20 to print a chartimage on the basis of image data representative of a previously preparedchart image. The computer 10 transmits the exclusive-use startingcommand and the exclusive-use canceling command to the printer 20 anddominates the printer for the period between transmission of bothcommands as in the first embodiment. After having transmitted theexclusive-use starting command to the printer 20 (S1000), the computer10 instructs the printer 20 to carry out printing on the basis of thechart image data 14 e at S1010.

FIG. 21 shows processing at S1010. At S1010, the computer 10 causes thedisplay 18 a to display a print setting screen (application screen) ofthe chart image based on an operation by the user and enters variousprinting conditions via the application screen.

FIG. 22 shows an example of an application screen. The applicationscreen 18 a 2 carries out display for entering the printing conditionsas the application screen 18 a 1, whereupon the computer 10 obtains thepaper size, the upper, lower, right and left end margins of the paper, atype of chart and the like according to the user's entering operation.The horizontal and vertical size of each patch composing theverification chart (hP, wP), the number of patches per line ofverification chart (nP), the number of patch lines (mL) and the chartarea position (xP, yP) are previously defined for every type ofverification chart. Accordingly, these are automatically determined uponselection of verification chart. The position (xP, yP) signifies astarting position PS of the chart area on the basis of the origin(starting position of image area) of the image area of the chart image.Furthermore, preview display 18 a 21 is also carried out for the chartimage disposed on the printing paper in the same manner as theapplication screen 18 a 1.

At S1110, the computer 10 reads out from the HD 14 chart image data 14 erepresentative of the chart image selected at the time of input of theprinting condition. In the embodiment, each of pixels of the chart imagedata 14 e is expressed by RGB.

Subsequently, the APL 14 a starts the PRTDRV 14 b so that the chartimage data 14 e is supplied to the PRTDRV 14 b. The APL 14 a then causesthe PRTDRV 14 b to carry out a color conversion process (S1120), ahalftone process (S1130), a rasterizing process (S1140) and generationand transmission process of a printing command (S1150).

The print command includes a print area definition command and aprinting position renewal command and a print data command as describedabove. The print area definition command contains information about thepaper size and margins obtained at S1100 and instructs the printer 20 toset the position of the print head 25 a at the starting position of theimage area of the chart image on the paper M. The printing positionrenewal command instructs a print starting position of the chart areafor every scan by the print head 25 a. The print starting position ofthe chart area on the printing paper can be specified by the verticalsize of the patch (hP) and the number of patch lines (mL). The printcommand may instruct to carry out solid printing in a specified color ornot to carry out printing regarding a print stabilizing area of theimage area of the chart image. At the side of the printer 20 havingreceived the print command, the printer controller 250 is caused tocarry out the process of printing the chart image as shown in FIG. 19 onthe paper M based on the control. The printing process in detail is thesame as in the first embodiment.

At S1020, the computer 10 instructs the printer 20 to carry outcolorimetry of the chart image and obtains a colorimetric value of thechart image. The processing at S1020 is basically the same as FIG. 12and the colorimetry instruction is a process of generating andtransmitting a chart definition command, drying command and colorimetrycommand. The chart definition command in the embodiment has chartdefinition information (image position information) defining theposition of the chart area of the chart image in the paper M. The chartdefinition information defines the horizontal and vertical size of eachpatch (hP, wP), the number of patches (nP), patch line numbers (mL) andthe like as well as the starting position (xS, yS) of the chart area onthe basis of the paper origin and end position of the chart area (xE,yE). The starting position (xS, yS) can be defined by the upper endmargin, left margin and chart position (xP, yP). Regarding thehorizontal and vertical size of each patch, the number of patches andpatch line numbers, the printer 20 reads out data of horizontal andvertical size of each patch, the number of patches and patch linenumbers previously stored according to the chart image selected by theuser. The data thus read out serves as part of the chart definitioninformation. Regarding the end position (xE, yE), xE is the sum of xSand wP×nP, whereas yE is the sum of yS and hP×mL.

A spontaneous drying command or forced drying command can be generatedas the drying command. However, the spontaneous drying command isbasically generated in the embodiment. The reason for this is that it isnot practical to dry a patch group contained in a large number of linessuch as the chart image by the drier 26 d. The colorimetry commandinstructs the printer 20 to feed the printing paper M so that each lineof the chart area is sequentially located under the movement path of thecolorimetry portion 26 a.

The processing at the side of the printer 20 having sequentiallyreceived the chart definition command, drying command and colorimetrycommand is the same as in FIGS. 9 and 14 except the change of the targetof colorimetry from the verification chart to the chart area in FIG. 19.since the drying command is the spontaneous drying command in theembodiment, the above-described equation (2) is used when a feeddistance for colorimetry of one line of the chart area is computed. Whenequations (2) to (4) are used in the embodiment, the values defined bythe chart definition information generated at S1020 are of course usedfor the values of yS, hP, xS and xE. At S1030, the computer 10 transmitsthe exclusive-use canceling command to the printer 20 to release theprinter 20 from the dominated state.

According to the embodiment, the computer 10 transmits the printcommand, chart definition command, drying command and colorimetrycommand to the printer 20 while dominating the printer 20 by theexclusive-use command, so that the printer can be caused to carry outautomatic continuous processing of print of the chart image, drying,colorimetry and transmission of colorimetric value. Furthermore, thecolorimetric value of each patch thus obtained can be used for variouspurposes such as calibration, generation of profile and the like.

4. PROCESS OF SETTING POSITION OF COLORIMETRY PORTION

The following will describe a manner of setting the above-mentioned dHM(the distance between the print head 25 a and the color detectingsection 26 a 1 in the paper feed direction). It is desirable to carryout the process before execution of each embodiment.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart showing a process for setting a position of thecolorimetric section, which process can be executable with the use ofthe arrangement of the print and colorimetry control device.

At S1200, the print and colorimetry control device prints the right andleft patches on the paper based on predetermined colorimetry sectionposition confirming image data. The right and left refer to thedirections as viewed in the paper feed direction. The colorimetrysection position confirming image data used for printing two blackrectangular patches on two positions in the paper feed direction orright and left sides at both sides of the center on the paper. Morespecifically, the computer 10 coverts the colorimetry section positionconfirming image data to raster data and transmits the raster data tothe printer 20 so that the printer 20 carries out printing based on theraster data.

FIG. 24 shows right and left patches PR and PL printed based on imagedata for confirmation of colorimetric section position. Each of theright and left patches PR and PL is black and has a vertical dimensionhP which is the same as or slightly smaller than a diameter of the colordetecting section 26 a 1 of the colorimetry portion 26 a. For example,when the diameter of the color detecting section 26 a 1 is at 2 mm, thevertical dimension hP of the patch is set at about 1.8 mm.

At S1205, the printer 20 feeds the paper M in the paper feed directionso that a position (colorimetry starting position) on the paper spacedaway from the patches PR and PL by the diameter of the color detectingsection 26 a 1 toward the paper starting side comes under a movement(scanning) path of the colorimetry portion 26 a.

At S1210, the printer 20 feeds the paper M in the unit of slightdistance from the state where the colorimetry starting position islocated under the scan path of the colorimetry portion 26 a. The slightdistance here refers to a distance shorter than the vertical dimensionof each of the patches PR and PL and is preferably at about 0.1 mm. At1215, the printer 20 causes the colorimetry portion 26 a to carry outcolorimetry while causing the colorimetry portion moving mechanism 26 bto move the colorimetry portion 26 a for one time of scan. At S1220, theprinter 20 stores the result of colorimetry of one time of scan in apredetermined storage area.

At S1225, the printer 20 determines whether colorimetry has beencompleted for a target number of lines (n). When the target number oflines have not been reached, the printer 20 returns to S1210 to repeatthe processing. The target number of lines corresponds to the number ofscans of the colorimetry portion 26 a for colorimetry of a predeterminedrange on the paper including the patches PR and PL. The number of linesis previously set according to the vertical dimension of the patches PRand PL and the aforesaid slight distance.

When colorimetry has been completed for the target number of lines, theprinter 20 obtains a distance (head-colorimetry portion distance 1) fromthe print head 25 a to the position on the paper where the minimum Lvalue is obtained, in the paper feed direction, at S1230. Morespecifically, in the result of colorimetry of each line, one lowluminance value (L value) is obtained at a scan position where thecolorimetry portion 26 a comes nearest to the right patch PR. The low Lvalue of each line takes a minimum value in a line passing the centralposition of the right patch PR. Then, the printer 20 prints the rightpatch PR and thereafter obtains a feed distance of the paper that thecolorimetry is carried out for the position on the paper where theminimum L value has been obtained, based on the result of colorimetryfor the periphery of the right patch PR. The obtained distance serves asa head-colorimetry portion distance 1.

In the same manner, the printer 20 obtains a distance (head-colorimetryportion distance 2) from the print head 25 a to the position on thepaper where the minimum L value has been obtained, based on the resultof colorimetry for the periphery of the left patch PL, at S1235.

At S1240, the printer 20 obtains the difference between the distancesfrom the print head (head-colorimetry portion distance 1 andhead-colorimetry portion distance 2). The printer 20 determines whetherthe difference is equal to or smaller than a threshold value. Thethreshold value may be about 0.3 mm, for example. When the difference isequal to or smaller than the threshold value, the scan direction of thecolorimetry portion 26 a can be regarded as parallel to the scandirection of the print head 25 a. Accordingly, the printer 20 sets theabove head-colorimetry portion distance 1 (or head-colorimetry portiondistance 2) as the dHM value and stores data of the dHM value in apredetermined storage area.

On the other hand, when the difference between the head-colorimetryportion distance 1 and the head-colorimetry portion distance 2 is largerthan the threshold value, the scan direction of the colorimetry portion26 a is inclined relative to the scan direction of the print head 25 a.In other words, the colorimetry and drying unit 28 can be considered notto be mounted properly. In this case, the printer 20 informs thecomputer 10 that the colorimetry and drying unit 28 is not mountedproperly. The computer 10 causes the display 18 a to display the errormessage that the right side is lower 3 mm, thereby urging the user tocorrect the mounting direction of the colorimetry and drying unit 28(S1255).

FIGS. 25A and 25B show the relationship between the L value of thecolorimetric value at the time of passing of the patch by each line andthe line (1 to n) for which the colorimetry has been carried out withrespect to the right and left patches PR and PL respectively. In FIG.25A, the line for which the smallest L value has been obtained differsbetween the right and left patches PR and PL. Thus, when the line whichhas acquired the smallest L value differs between the right and leftpatches PR and PL, the scan direction of the colorimetry portion 26 a isinclined relative to the scan direction of the print head 25 a, and anerror message is displayed at S1255.

On the other hand, in the case of FIG. 25B, the L values of the rightand left patches PR and PL substantially correspond with each other.Thus, when the smallest L values of the right and left patches PR and PLcorrespond with each other, the scan direction of the colorimetryportion 26 a is regarded as parallel to the scan direction of the printhead 25 a.

According to the setting process of the position of the colorimetryportion, the distance dHM between the print head 25 a and the colordetecting section 26 a 1 is expected to be slightly different for everyprinter 20. The distance dHM is actually calculated and the result ofcalculation is referred to when the paper is fed in the drying processor colorimetry process. Accordingly, the portion of the paper for whichdrying or colorimetry is to be carried out can accurately be fedrelative to the direr 26 d or the colorimetry portion 26 a. Furthermore,when the mounting position of the colorimetry and drying unit 28 isimproper, the user is informed of the improper mounting. As a result,the colorimetry and drying unit 28 can be prevented from being keptmounted on the improper position.

5. SUMMARY

According to the embodiment, the application delivering variousinstructions to the printer 20 supplies a print command, chartdefinition command, drying command and colorimetry command to theprinter 20, the printer 20 receives the printing command therebyprinting a predetermined image. The printer 20 receives the dryingcommand or colorimetry command, automatically computing a feed distanceof the printing paper using information about the position of the imagefor which colorimetry is to be executed and which is defined by thechart definition command. The paper is fed relative to the drier 26 d orcolorimetry portion 26 a in accordance with the obtained distance or theforced drying is carried out by the drier 26 d. Thus, the movementdistance of the colorimetry portion 26 a is computed based on theinformation about the position of the image for which colorimetry is tobe carried out, and the like. The colorimetry process is carried outwhile the colorimetry portion 26 a is moved according to the calculatedmovement distance.

More specifically, when the invention is used, the sequential work ofprint of an image, drying, colorimetry and obtainment of a colorimetricvalue can be carried out accurately in a shorter period of time when theuser enters predetermined data on an application screen. Furthermore,since the APL 14 a of the computer 10 dominates the printer 20 duringthe above-mentioned sequential work, the work can be prevented frombeing interrupted by another instruction output source.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withrespect to preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood bythose skilled in the art that the foregoing and other changes in formand detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A print and colorimetry control device comprising: a print controlsection which controls so that an image for which colorimetry is to becarried out is printed on a printing medium, based on predeterminedimage data; a determining section which determines a position where acolorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry for the imagebased on a printing position of the image on the printing medium; afeeding section which feeds the printing medium having finishedprinting, based on the determined position; and a colorimetry controlsection which controls the colorimetry section based on the determinedposition so that the colorimetry section is caused to carry outcolorimetry thereby to obtain a colorimetric value of the image.
 2. Theprint and colorimetry control device according to claim 1, wherein thedetermining section computes a distance between the image and thecolorimetry section, based on image position information defining theprinting position of the image on the printing medium and mediumposition information relating to a position of the printing medium,thereby determining the position where the colorimetry section is causedto carry out colorimetry for the image.
 3. The print and colorimetrycontrol device according to claim 2, wherein the feeding section feedsthe printing medium printed with the image according to the computeddistance in a medium feed direction, and the colorimetry control sectionmoves the colorimetry section in a direction substantially perpendicularto the medium feed direction according to a distance between the imageand the colorimetry section in a moving direction of the colorimetrysection.
 4. The print and colorimetry control device according to claim1, wherein the colorimetry control section is capable of controlling adrier which dries the printing medium, and when a forced drying whichforcibly dries the image on the printing medium, the image is dried bythe drier before colorimetry.
 5. (canceled)
 6. The print and colorimetrycontrol device according to claim 1, further comprising a judgingsection which compares a colorimetric value of the image obtained by thecolorimetry section with a previously provided reference color value ofthe image, thereby judging whether a printing process by the printcontrol section has normally been carried out, based on a result ofcomparison.
 7. A print and colorimetry control method comprising:printing on a printing medium an image for which colorimetry is to becarried out, based on predetermined image data; determining a positionwhere a colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry for theimage based on a printing position of the image on the printing medium;feeding the printing medium on which the image has been printed, basedon the determined position; and causing the colorimetry section to carryout colorimetry based on the determined position, thereby obtaining acolorimetric value of the image.
 8. A printer comprising: a printcontrol section which prints an image for which colorimetry is to becarried out on a printing medium, based on predetermined image data; acolorimetry section; a determining section which determines a positionwhere the colorimetry section is caused to carry out colorimetry for theimage based on a printing position of the image on the printing medium;a feeding section which feeds the printing medium having finishedprinting, based on the determined position; and a colorimetry controlsection which controls the colorimetry section based on the determinedposition so that the colorimetry section is caused to carry outcolorimetry thereby to obtain a colorimetric value of the image.